Stone Built Residence with Detached 400sqft Barn and One Bedroom Annexe on .28 Acres in Lavendon, Nr Olney.

This stone-built residence sits on a superb south-facing plot beside the church in the rural location of Lavendon. There’s character in abundance, accommodation that just keeps going, and potential aplenty both inside and out.

The property has been a much-cherished home for the current owners for nearly 50 years, while its origins date back centuries. Beginning as a row of three cottages, these were merged into one, and later joined with the neighbouring cottage in the 1930s. The owners added the lounge across the back in the 80s to make the most of the garden outlooks, and the front cottage was turned into a separate office in the 90s, now a self-contained studio annexe providing an income stream.

When the owners moved here all those years ago, it was the space on offer that really appealed, and with four children, this was fundamental. The property has adapted well to each chapter of their lives, with flexible rooms downstairs, and five generous bedrooms upstairs. A home for two today, there’s ample space for their now 16-strong family spanning three generations to spread out when they come to stay.

The kitchen is a hub of activity in any home, and this one has a traditional farmhouse feel. We see Sunday lunches and lazy breakfasts, baking bread and making crumbles (with homegrown ingredients from the garden), while the adjacent dining room affords a more formal setting for hosting dinner parties and games nights with friends. The detached barn in the garden could be connected to the house (stp), and this presents possibility to convert into a show-stopping space, with open-plan kitchen/dining/living, perhaps linked via a glass walkway. The owners like the idea of an indoor swimming pool in the barn instead, but there’s opportunity to explore your options.

The lounge is a sizeable space for everyone to relax, cosy in the winter from the fire, filled with sun through south-facing sliding doors and multiple windows, and airy from its wood-panelled vaulted ceiling. You’re able to appreciate the garden in all its glory, and can step straight outside.

The garden is seemingly endless, stretching from the patio at the back of the house, and ending alongside a stream at the bottom. Walking the full length of the plot from the gated gravel driveway at the front, to the small orchard at the end, you pass a plethora of plants and trees from peonies to plums, and wisteria, honeysuckle and roses wrap the back of the house beautifully. It’s particularly peaceful, with birds singing and the church bells chiming, and the plot is private and enclosed, hidden from the road.

The property is situated in the centre of the village, steps from the local shop and Post Office, the park and playing fields, and the Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ primary and ‘Good’ pre-school. Lavendon is a location with community spirit, and villagers can get together over food and drink at the two pubs, and during clubs, classes and shows at the village hall. Being surrounded by countryside, you’re spoilt for scenic walks and wildlife watching, and the owners get outside for fresh air and a stroll every day. 

Within easy reach are centres such as Bedford, Northampton and Milton Keynes, and London is commutable by rail from their stations. Olney is just down the road, where you’ll find a range of cafés, restaurants and pubs, boutique shops and independent businesses. Olney also has Ousedale school, and both Wellingborough School and Bedford’s Harpur Trust are a short drive away.

This right here is a rare chance to reside in a substantial character home, to make your mark on a property, and to live in the wonderful village of Lavendon.